SEXY VOLVO V60 SLATED FOR MZANSI IN 2011

Volvo Car South Africa plans to launch the all-new Volvo S60 locally early in 2011. At launch the V60 will be available in 2.0T (149kW), D5 (151kW, 420Nm) and T6 (224kW) guise. The 2.0T will be available in either manual or powershift while the T6 and D5 derivatives are fitted with a Geartronic gearbox.

Volvo has just released the first official information on its all-new Volvo V60, which enters the vehicle market with its sights firmly set on being the sexiest sports wagon on the road.

"Many customers who've had an advance look at the new V60 during the development process feel that its attitude is certainly as sporty as that of the all-new S60," says Volvo Cars Design Director Peter Horbury.

The response of the enthusiastic customers is music to the ears of the project group, which has always had its sights set on giving the V60 the emotive aura, sporty design and dynamic driving properties of a genuine sports wagon.

"The typical sports wagon customer is an S60 buyer who would like some extra space and flexibility, but without the slightest compromise on sporty design and exciting driving properties," says Volvo Cars President and CEO Stephen Odell. "The competition is razor-sharp and the customers in this segment know exactly what they want. That is why we have further boosted the interior's sense of exclusive quality and packed the car with safety- and comfort-related technical innovations. The result is a truly unique sports wagon, in total harmony with its sporty attitude," says Odell.

The pronounced wedge shape and the slim coupé-like roof line of the new V60 are accompanied by a bold shoulder line, creating a gentle yet powerful double wave that extends from the cars headlamps all the way to the tail lamps at the rear.

"From the design viewpoint the focus was on making the car as close to a coupé as possible, while retaining that handy extra space at the rear. Our sports wagon does not aim to compete with the traditional estate car. For the customer who wants a lot of load space, there is our V50, V70 [not available in SA], or XC70," says Örjan Sterner, head of exterior design for the new Volvo V60.

Örjan adds, "The dip in the middle of the double wave visually pushes the car down. This enhances the stance and makes the car look sleeker and lower. The sculpted bonnet and the short overhangs front and rear also emphasise the sports car feel."

The dynamism of the design is further enhanced by what Volvo's design team calls the "racetrack" design. The car's lines do not end abruptly but instead continue to flow organically, continually, echoing the smooth shapes of the racetrack.

The new Volvo V60 is being launched with a range of exterior colours selected with immense care to emphasise the model's inspiring lines. Among the 15 colours available are two new shades, the radiant Vibrant Copper and the more classic Electrum Gold.

Like the S60 sedan model, Volvo's new sports wagon exhibits a clear driver focus, making it the ideal companion for the keen driving enthusiast. In contrast to this individualistic attitude, the new model integrates a high-tech innovation that helps it protect one of the most vulnerable road-users in modern traffic: the pedestrian.

Pedestrian Detection with full auto brake is a groundbreaking technological solution. It can detect pedestrians who walk into the road in front of the car, then warn the driver of their presence - and automatically apply full braking power if the driver does not respond in time.

The new Volvo V60 is packed with high-tech solutions that actively help the driver avoid accidents - and help protect the occupants if an accident is unavoidable. The safety technology also contributes to added safety for unprotected pedestrians and the occupants of other cars.

Pedestrian Detection with full auto brake, which is an option on all V60 derivatives, can detect if a pedestrian steps out into the road in front of the car. If the driver does not respond in time, the car can automatically activate the brakes.

In simple terms, car buyers can be divided into two main categories: enthusiasts and pragmatists. For the enthusiast, the car is a high-priority conversation topic that can never be exhausted, while the pragmatist only shows interest in the car market when it is time to replace the current vehicle with a new one every three or four years or so.

In an historical perspective, Volvo's brand has attracted more pragmatists than enthusiasts. However, with each successive generation of Volvo models offering increasingly emotive appeal, that picture has changed - and the new V60 is packed with all the ingredients from the enthusiast's favourite menu.

"The figure ‘60' in our model range now indicates our sportiest models. The XC60 was the first step. We took the next step with the all-new S60 sedan - and now we're launching the V60 sports wagon," says Stephen Odell.